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But once the Holy Spirit of God is added to a person’s mind, he then has the power to resist the attitudes of self- centeredness, lust, greed, vanity, jealousy, envy, resentment, competition, strife, bitterness and hate, which are broadcast to the mind by Satan.
No person is compelled to respond to and obey these impulses from Satan. The devil has no power to FORCE anyone to think or do wrong! But the unsuspecting humans automatically do so without realizing what is taking place in their minds. Most people just drift along, responding to emotions and impulses that often find expression in their fleshly drives and vain pursuits.
Thus Satan, the “god of this world,” “the prince of the power of the air,” is actually working “in” (Eph. 2:2) the minds of unsuspecting people all over the world. That is why it is “this present evil world,” and why it is so thoroughly deceived today!
8. After your begettal by God’s Holy Spirit, which makes you a Christian, will the devil continue to try to deceive you and lead you away from Christ and His ways? 2 Cor. 11:2-4; Verses 13-15. Did some Christians in Paul’s day begin to fall victim to the devil’s promptings once again? Gal. 1:6-8; 3:1.
COMMENT: Conversion does not shield you from Satan’s “wavelength.” He continues to broadcast the attitudes of his nature. When Jesus spoke of overcoming, He referred to overcoming these ways of Satan, which are contrary to God’s way.
Those who have turned from Satan's way are fighting to OVERCOME his subtle urgings and are striving to remain true to God’s way—the way of God's love—the way of outgoing concern. They are the ones Satan hates. He is especially interested in destroying them! But with God’s protection and restraining power over Satan, which He promises to give us if we remain close to Him, we can overcome!
Before Jesus Christ could qualify to restore the government of God and rule all nations, He had to withstand Satan’s most severe temptations. That supreme struggle is recorded in the fourth chapter of Matthew. Notice how the devil attempted to deceive and influence Jesus Christ to sin against God.
9. When Jesus was extremely hungry, how did the devil appeal both to human vanity and hunger? Matt. 4:1-3. And to the human desire for prestige, glory and power? Verses 5-9. What were Jesus’ immediate responses? Verses 4, 7, 10. What was the outcome of this titanic spiritual battle? Verse 11.
COMMENT: Jesus Christ overcame the devil. He resisted Satan, conquered him, and showed His MASTERY over him! When He gave the devil an order, Satan had to obey. He slunk away, knowing he was defeated in this supreme spiritual encounter of all time.
Christ overcame the devil’s wiles by the Word of God. He responded to the devil’s temptations by citing the appropriate scripture that applied in each situation. He knew the Word of God thoroughly. He KNEW God’s will. And He obeyed it. Therefore, the devil could not deceive Him!
10. Are Christians today also to resist the devil with the truth God has revealed to them? 1 Pet. 5:9. What must the devil do if resisted steadfastly? Jas. 4:7.
11. What instructions on fighting against the impulses and attitudes of the devil does God give us through Paul? Eph. 6:10-12. What are Christians to put on in order to fight this spiritual battle? Verses 11, 13. Of what does God’s spiritual armor consist? Verses 14-18.
COMMENT: “Truth” refers to the inspired Word of God (John 17:17), the first piece in the Christian’s spiritual armor. The “breastplate of righteousness” is obedience to God’s commandments (Ps. 119:172); the “gospel of peace” is the message of the coming Kingdom of God, when Christ will rule this earth and bring it peace.
The “shield of faith” refers to the faith of Jesus Christ, which can be within us (Gal. 2:20; Rev. 14:12; Phil. 3:9)— not just to our own human, physical faith. This faith is God’s gift imparted by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). And it is this faith—Christ's faith put within us—that will enable us to conquer and overcome sin!
The “helmet of salvation” is the knowledge of what salvation is, what it involves, what it’s all about—the very purpose of life. In other words, it is the knowledge of the TRUE GOAL and potential destiny of mankind—that of becoming divine members of the Family of God!
The “sword of the Spirit” refers to the written Word of God—it is the Christian’s only offensive weapon in fighting the devil and his wiles (Heb. 4:12). It cuts the enemy’s tactics and strategies to ribbons and shows us what the enemy is up to.
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